Updates
Mid-Hudson Love In the Name of Christ Update
January 15, 2012
Mid-Hudson Love INC is thankful for a positive year end and the privilege of serving God's
people in the Hudson Valley.
We continue to thank God for the many ways He brings us together to meet the needs of His
children in this area. In December, one of our board members volunteered at a Christmas party
at a local homeless shelter for families. She began talking with a mom and her 13-year-old
daughter who were living at the shelter. As they talked, the board member was able to offer
encouragement and the possibility of a part-time job through her company. What the board
member did not know at the time, due to our policy on confidentiality, is that this mom and
daughter are clients of Love INC, who have received help and encouragement through prayer
and our personal care ministry! The mom was very grateful for the laundry detergent she
receives each month and for the many ways God continues to meet her needs. Her daughter
noted, “Mom, you helped serve dinner to the homeless last year, and now we are homeless and
they are serving us.”
You are invited to join us at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, 2607 South Avenue (Route
9D), Wappingers Falls, for an Ecumenical Service on Sunday, January 22 at 3:00 p.m. The
offering will go to Mid-Hudson Love INC, enabling us to continue to meet needs through caring
relationships.
Save the Date – Our fourth annual Cookie Walk will be held on Saturday, February 11 at
Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church!
In our last update, we asked you to pray for Polly, one of our personal care pantry volunteers.
God has heard our prayers! Polly is home from the hospital and doing better. Doctors are still
sorting out medication issues.
“We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in
advance for us to do.” - Ephesians 2:10
Mid-Hudson Love In the Name of Christ Update – November 17, 2011
We continue to praise God for the transforming work He is doing in the lives of the clients who contact Mid-Hudson Love INC. Below are two more stories (with the names changed, of course, for confidentiality) of God’s work through Mid-Hudson Love INC.
- Ann is a single mom who lost her job, had health issues and was homeless. Wanting a stable environment and a better life for her and her son, Ann took classes at her church (which is one of our partner churches), found a place to live and got a job. She called Love INC for help with personal care products and specific clothing that she needed for work but could not afford until her first paycheck arrived. When a volunteer at the Clearinghouse prayed with Ann, she said she felt “power in that prayer.” This same volunteer was then led by God to go out and find the specific clothing items Ann would need to start work. She purchased and delivered them. Ann was so appreciative, giving the volunteer a great big hug! Ann called back a couple of weeks later to report that things were coming together for her family. She was working and had found a tutor for her son. She thanked us for the badly needed personal care package and especially for our prayers.
- Margie was referred to us by the Salvation Army. She was brought up in foster care and has no family. She was in an abusive marriage and had to seek protection from her husband. Margie and her much-loved cat were left alone and without resources. Love INC was able to refer her to a resource for abused women and to a food pantry. We also provided her with a gift card and money, generously given by a partner church. Over the next few months, we were able to support and pray with Margie as she went through court appearances and harassment. We were able to supply her with cat food, furniture, a listening and loving ear, and powerful prayer. She has since moved away from this area to be away from her husband, but she called to let us know that she is very thankful for Love INC, for the concern we had for her when she was feeling alone, and for all we did to help her through that time. She says that she loves God and knows He has helped her in her life.
Our Election Day Bake Sale was a success. We raised over $650. Thank you to all who baked and volunteered!
A volunteer training will be held on Tuesday, November 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of the Nazarene in Poughkeepsie (546 Vassar Road). If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering with Mid-Hudson Love INC, please come! RSVP to info@mhlinc.org.
We are pleased to announce that the following people were elected to a two-year term on the Board of Directors (January 2012 – December 2013) at our November Board Meeting – Ann Derwin, Jewel Ratzlaff, John Thoman, Glenn Van Heemst, Rev. John Young (returning board members), Paul Curran, Steve Jones, Maritza Norton, Lee Pagones and Matt Williams (new board members). Please continue to pray for our board of directors, that we would be able to clearly discern God’s will for Mid-Hudson Love INC.
“Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” – 2 Timothy 2:1
Mid-Hudson Love In the Name of Christ Update – October 15, 2011
We are praising God for the transforming work He is doing in the lives of the clients who contact Mid-Hudson Love INC. Below are two specific examples (with the names changed, of course, for confidentiality):
- Love INC has had a 2-year ongoing relationship with Catherine, a sweet, older lady with no family, several health problems and financial need. Over this time, we have helped her find an oral surgeon, provided her with a comfortable bed and linens, delivered packages of personal care items, and given her some much-needed furniture. Volunteers who have made deliveries report that she greatly appreciates our help. In fact, she cried when she received her bed, overcome with joy. Volunteers connect with Catherine regularly, to see how she’s doing and to pray with her. Recently, she called us to say that she was taking classes to learn how to assist people who have mental disabilities, because she wants to give back. We prayed for success and opportunities and will continue to come alongside this dear child of God.
- Bruce called us a year and a half ago. He had been in prison, and he was having difficulty finding a job because of his past. Although he didn’t want prayer or a connection with a partner church, he communicated that he was determined to stay on the right path. He seemed to mistrust our motives for wanting to help him. Over time, we have provided personal care items, linens and a little bit of furniture to Bruce, and he has come to enjoy our conversations with him. This past spring, he allowed us to pray with him. Recently, a volunteer placed a copy of “Our Daily Bread,” a popular devotional, in Bruce’s bag of personal care items. Bruce told us how much he enjoys reading this devotional and thanked us for our help. He says we are a blessing, and that he now prays for us! This is the hope we have for all of our clients – to come to know Christ and connect with His people.
We are praising God today for our third annual SCRABBLE® Blitz Tournament fund-raiser on Thursday evening. Thank you to our tournament committee and to the many volunteers who helped make this event a success! Mid-Hudson Love INC raised over $4000 and made many new friends at this fun-filled event.
Mid-Hudson Love INC will be holding an Election Day Apple Dessert Sale at Poughkeepsie United Methodist Church (2381 New Hackensack Road, Poughkeepsie) on Tuesday, November 8, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Please contact us at 471-0102 or info@mhlinc.org and let us know if you would like to contribute apple pie or apple crisp or apple muffins or apple tarts or candied apples or your own special apple dessert for our sale. And please come and visit us and purchase some delicious fall treats on November 8!
“We love, because He first loved us!” – 1 John 4:19
Mid-Hudson Love In the Name of Christ Update – September 19, 2011
Praise God for the opportunities we have had to share the ministry of Love INC with our neighbors! Perhaps you had opportunity to visit the Love INC table at East Fishkill Community Day this weekend. Or maybe you’ve read about us in the Poughkeepsie Journal. As more and more people hear about Love INC, we pray that God will increase our partnership with churches and our ministry to our community.
We continue to thank God for the relationships that are being built with our clients. One of our clients, who moved to Westchester 7 months ago, called this week to let us know that she misses us and is thankful for us. She considers us her family, so she calls to check in and ask for prayer. We prayed with her, and we will continue to pray for her, thanking God that we are able to share His love with those who call for assistance.
We are also excited that some of our clients have said “Yes” to our invitation to take part in an Alpha course at one of our partner churches. This offers another opportunity for our clients to learn more of the Christian faith and to build relationships.
As the weather gets colder, we have received word that our Linens Ministry is out of full and queen-sized bed blankets. Please consider donating new or gently-used blankets in excellent condition to our linens pantry at Immanuel Church (253 Myers Corners Road, Wappingers Falls). Donations may be dropped off at the church on Wednesdays or Fridays, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Finally, we want to remind you of our Third Annual SCRABBLE® Blitz Tournament coming up on October 13. Please consider joining us that night, as a player or a judge. Even if you are not able to come, you can participate by purchasing a raffle ticket for one of our amazing raffles – golf for four at the Trump National Golf Club Hudson Valley or 4 days and 3 nights at the Trapp Family Guest House in Stowe, Vermont. We are also looking for sponsors and for program advertisers. For details, visit www.mid-hudsonloveinc.org and click on the “scrabble” link at the top of the page.
Mid-Hudson Love In the Name of Christ Update – August 19, 2011
Thursday, August 4 was an amazing day at Mid-Hudson Love INC. On that day, 15 young people from the Bridge Builders Youth Mission Week served our community through Mid-Hudson Love INC. These teens represented nine different churches in our area (and one church from The Netherlands!). They learned about poverty and putting their faith in action by delivering furniture, personal care products, linens and a bed and by helping a client unpack in her new apartment. They also donated personal care products that they had collected. We thank God for these young people and their commitment to meeting needs through caring relationships.
Last month’s update featured our personal care items ministry and our linens ministry. This month we would like to highlight another of our Gap Ministries, our Furniture Ministry. Our furniture ministry provides clients with furniture, often donated by friends of Mid-Hudson Love INC. Already this year, Love INC volunteers have made over 81 deliveries of tables and chairs, dressers, sofas and more. It's pretty amazing the impact some sturdy, comfortable furniture can make!
Before furniture is delivered, a site visit is made to connect face-to-face with the client, confirm the need and make sure there are no obstacles (narrow hallways, stairwells, etc.) to delivering the furniture. Often furniture is picked up from a donor and delivered to a client the same day. When that is not possible, we have been blessed by a donation of a storage unit where pieces can be stored temporarily. (THANK YOU Hampshire Self-Storage on Route 9!)
Unfortunately, this vital ministry is now “on hold.” We have a committed donations coordinator, site visit volunteers, trucks and delivery volunteers. But we do not have a Furniture Coordinator (or team of coordinators) to oversee and direct site visits and deliveries. This position involves organizing people, information and furniture, along with phone calls, discernment, reliability and a heart for ministry! We have been praying for many months that God would provide a furniture delivery coordinator. Would you pray with us? Perhaps God is calling you or someone you know to serve others In the Name of Christ through this ministry. If you would like more information, please contact Jewel Ratzlaff at fourlaffs@verizon.net or 896-4126. Thank you.
“Freely you have received, freely give.” - Matthew 10:8b
Mid-Hudson Love In the Name of Christ Update
July 18, 2011
Mid-Hudson Love INC seeks to mobilize the Church in the Mid-Hudson Region to
transform lives and communities In the Name of Christ. One way we do this is through
our gap ministries. Two of these very active ministries are our Personal Care Items
Ministry and our Linens Ministry. When a client with verified need requests either
personal care items or linens, those items are delivered to their home by a trained Love
INC volunteer deliverer. These deliverers bring not only material items but also the
Love of Christ. They often spend time speaking and praying with clients as they drop
off the needed goods. They build caring relationships as they meet physical needs.
The Personal Care Items ministry provides personal items (not covered by food stamps)
to our clients. Over 350 personal care deliveries have been made already in 2011 (69
in the month of June alone)! The Linens Ministry brings towels, sheets, pillows and
blankets to clients in need. Over 45 linens deliveries have been made in 2011.
We can always use help supplying items for these important ministries. We try to keep
a stock of gently-used bedding and towels and new pillows in our Linens Ministry. Our
Personal Care Pantry supplies soap, shampoo, razors, shaving cream, toothpaste,
toothbrushes, deodorant, dish soap, laundry detergent, toilet paper, tampons, sanitary
pads, paper towels, combs, brushes and tissues. (The items that are most-needed
this month include new pillows, laundry detergent, dish soap, paper towels and toilet
paper.)
You can help us by donating product or, even better, by sponsoring a product drive!
If you would like to sponsor a drive (through your church, with your Girl Scout troop,
at your job, etc.), simply select a time period, advertise your event, and let Love INC
know so we can be praying with you, provide Love INC information if needed, and tell
you our most needed items of the month. When the drive is over, deliver your personal
care items to Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1400 Route 52, Fishkill, NY (Wednesday
through Friday, 1 to 5, or call to make arrangements with the church - 897-4423) and/or
your linen items to Immanuel Church, 253 Myers Corners Road, Wappingers Falls, NY
(Wednesday or Fridays, 9 to 5).
If you have questions or need any additional information, please contact us at
info@mhlinc.org or 471-1012. Thank you.
Mid-Hudson Love In the Name of Christ Update - May 23, 2011
